With the ongoing pandemic students at all stages of their studies have unexpectedly had their lives flipped upside down. It’s now unacceptable to meet your mates at the pub, spend an afternoon shopping or have a day out exploring somewhere new.

Students are suddenly being thrown backwards, no longer living as independent adults with their friends and suddenly being back at home with their parents looking over their shoulder. For many students during lockdown, they are uncertain of what their future holds and are missing everything they once deemed normal. We asked these students what they missed the most about normal life.

Kieran – Nottingham Trent University

Kieran is in his second year studying Live and Technical Events at Nottingham Trent University. He says that the thing he misses the most about normal life is just being able to go outside and spend time with his mates. Since he can drive, he says that it’s strange not being able to just drive over anymore and go out on road trips.

KieranShutler
Source: Kieran Facebook page

Yasmina – De Montford University

Yasmina is in her first-year studying Performing Arts at De Montfort University. She says that the thing she misses the most about normal life is everything she took for granted and never expected to lose. Such as her freedom, the ability to go and see her friends or even to buy a plane ticket and go on holiday.

YasminaPerez
Source: Yasmina Facebook Page

Joe – The University of Lincoln

Joe is in his third year studying Product Design at The University of Lincoln. He says that the thing he misses the most about normal life is socialising with his mates. He misses being able to meet up with them and going for nights out, especially since he is in his final year of uni.

Chezney – The University of Sheffield

Chezney is in her second year studying Sociology at The University of Sheffield. She says that the thing she misses the most about normal life is living with her mates and being able to just go out with them whenever she wants to. As now she’s back home with her family she isn’t even in the same county as them anymore.

chezneyfixter
Source: Chezney Facebook Page

Toby – The University of Lincoln

Toby is in his second year studying Computer Science at The University of Lincoln. He says that the thing he misses the most about normal life is being able to go on nights out with his friends and getting to go to all the end of year celebrations that have now been cancelled.

Jessica – Nottingham Trent University

Jessica is in her first year studying Fashion Marketing and Branding at Nottingham Trent University. She says that the thing she misses the most about normal life is being able to go out and see all her friends and go out for drinks with them on nights out.

JessicaArnott
Source: Jessica Facebook Page

James – The University of Huddersfield

James is in his second year studying Engineering at The University of Huddersfield. He says that the thing he misses the most about normal life is just being able to go out and spend time in public places, such as at restaurants and cafes.

jameskirk
Source: James Facebook Page

Lauren – Staffordshire University

Lauren is in her second year studying Photography at Staffordshire University. She says that the thing she misses the most about normal life is being able to go to the library, hang out with her friends, and use the universities equipment to use during assignments.

Students seem to only be missing two things. Their friends and the freedom to go out and have fun. These are completely understandable feelings as the end of the academic year is a time to celebrate, whether that’s third years saying goodbye to their time at university, or the first years bringing an end to their time as freshers.

Missing friends is completely understandable as most people currently have no choice but to spend all their time with their family, who despite being related to them may not understand them and what they are going through as much as their friends do.

During university, the friends you pick and choose to live with essentially become new families for many people, and it’s quite sad thinking how many of these unconventional families have suddenly had their time together cut short.

LaurenEmmerson
Source: Lauren Facebook Page